He's wrong

As long as #2 happens we have hope.

It’s the time of year for looking back and looking ahead.

With the Saints, there’s no need — or desire — to do the former. By any standard, 2014 has been a major disappointment.

So let’s get out the used crystal ball that Santa left us and make 15 infallible predictions for 2015:

1. The Saints will lose to Tampa Bay 23-17 on Sunday, giving them a 6-10 record, the worst of the Sean Payton era. That finish will leave them with the 10th pick in the draft and games against Minnesota (home) and San Francisco (away) in 2015. They’ll also have home games against Jacksonville, Tennessee, Dallas and the New York Giants and road games at Washington, Philadelphia, Houston and Indianapolis — plus home-and-home games with NFC South foes Carolina, Atlanta and Tampa Bay.

2. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will be retained. But secondary coach Wesley McGriff, defensive line coach Bill Johnson and offensive line coach Bret Ingalls will be fired. In a front-office shakeup, director of college scouting Rick Reiprish will be fired, and at least three scouts will be replaced. The team will bring back former secondary coach Dennis Allen.]

3. Center Jonathan Goodwin will announce his retirement.]

4. The team will decline to re-sign running back Mark Ingram, making him a free agent.]

5. Marques Colston, the leading receiver in franchise history, and six-time Pro Bowler Jahri Evans will be released. Other veterans not retained include cornerback Patrick Robinson, tight end Benjamin Watson, wide receiver Robert Meachem, nose tackle Brodrick Bunkley, kicker Shayne Graham and linebacker David Hawthorne. Guard Ben Grubbs is brought back after a substantial salary reduction.]

6. Quarterback Drew Brees will restructure his contact so the team can avoid taking a $26 million salary-cap hit.]

7. Veteran free agents signed will include wide receiver Jeremy Maclin from Philadelphia and linebacker Pernell McPhee from Baltimore.]

8. With the 10th pick in the first round, the Saints will select guard/tackle Brandon Scherff of Iowa. Cornerback Alex Carter of Stanford will be the second-round pick. The team will draft a quarterback in the fifth round or later.]

9. After a second year of training camp at The Greenbrier, the team will announce it is voiding the final year of its contract with the resort and returning to its Metairie facility in 2016.]

10. Cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste, the team’s second-round draft pick in 2014, will be released at the end of training camp.]

11. Safety Jairus Byrd will make a full return to health and lead the team with seven interceptions.]

12. The team will improve from 31st in total defense and 29th in points allowed to the low- to mid-20s in both categories.]

13. Tight end Jimmy Graham again will fail to live up to the standards he set in 2013, finishing with fewer touchdowns and yards than he had in 2014. But wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Kenny Stills each will have more than 80 receptions, 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns.]

14. Brees will fail to surpass 5,000 passing yards but will pass Dan Marino for third on the league’s all-time touchdown passes list.]

15. The team will finish 8-8, losing its season finale at home against NFC South champion Atlanta on Jan. 3, 2016. The team then will schedule a major announcement for two days later.]